Every day, we give
away personal information about ourselves, often without even
realizing it. In many instances, we cannot control how this information
is used by others. However, many opportunities exist to protect your privacy
and take control of your personal information. You can begin by
following the tips featured below. Educate yourself further by reading the information in our Fact Sheets highlighted in the "Learn more by reading" bullet of each section below.

Order Your Free Annual Credit Reports

There are 3 nationwide credit bureaus
(Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). You can obtain a free credit
report from each credit bureau once every 12 months. Order your free reports online at www.annualcreditreport.com, download the Annual Credit Report Request form to mail in your request, or call (877) 322-8228.

To monitor your credit reports year round, order your report from a different credit bureau every four months.

You have the right to freeze access
to your credit reports. This is an effective way to reduce your risk of
identity theft. A security freeze locks your credit file, preventing
others from getting new credit using your name or identity.

Log out of webmail, social networking, and all other accounts before visiting other sites or using search engines.

Be aware of the dangers of cloud computing.

Do not use the same password for multiple accounts. Instead, use strong passwords that are unique to each account. This is particularly important for your most sensitive online accounts (for example, banking, email, and social networks).

There are hundreds of data brokers that publish your personal information online (for example, address, phone number, and date of birth). Others sell information
they compile to other companies. They get your information from public records and other sources.

There is no single mechanism of suppressing your information from all data brokers.

Some data brokers will allow you to opt out in order to remove your personal information, others will not.

Be aware that identity thieves, scam artists, debt collectors, stalkers, employers, and
corporations looking for a market advantage use social networks to
gather information about you.

Companies that operate social networks collect a
variety of data about their users, both to personalize the services for
the users and to sell to advertisers.

Carefully read a social network's Privacy Policy and understand how your information will be shared with others.

Don't post anything online that you wouldn't mind seeing on the front page of the newspaper. Use privacy settings to control who sees your posts, but keep in mind that even the strongest privacy settings won't prevent someone from re-sharing what you have posted.

Debit cards offer less legal protection than credit cards in the event of fraudulent purchases. A lost, stolen, or otherwise compromised debit card can result in your bank account being wiped out by a thief, without using your PIN number.

Use a credit card instead of a debit card.

If you have a debit card, ask your bank to replace it with an "ATM only" card.

Remove yourself from as many national mailing lists as possible by registering for the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service at https://www.dmachoice.org/register.php. You must renew your registration after 3 years.

Remove your Social Security card
and any other documents containing your SSN from your wallet. Securing
your SSN is a key step in avoiding identity theft. Carry your Medicare card only when you are planning a medical visit.

When
someone asks for your SSN, ask why they need it. Ask them to explain
their authority for requiring it, and what the consequences are if you do not provide it. Ask if you can give another identifier instead, such as
your driver's license number.

The federal law HIPAA
gives you the right to access your medical records. Health care
providers must give you a copy of their privacy notice. This includes
doctors, pharmacies, dentists, and other healthcare professionals.

You can get a free copy of your MIB Group Inc. (formerly Medical Information Bureau) report once a year. MIB will only have a record on you if you have applied for individually (not group) underwritten life, health, or disability insurance in the past 7 years. Phone: (866) 692-6901. Web: http://www.mib.com/request_your_record.html.

Shred
any documents containing your Social Security number, bank or credit
card information, or other personal, identifying, or financial
information. Use a cross-cut or confetti shredder.

Mail theft
can result in identity theft. Use a locked mailbox or try to pick up
your mail right after it is delivered. Try to mail letters containing
personal information from the Post Office or before the last collection
time at a Postal Service blue box.

Be suspicious when receiving calls asking for credit card, bank account,
Social Security or PIN numbers. Instead of providing any personal information,
contact a company directly to verify the need for the requested
information. Use a known legitimate number such as the one on your
statement or credit card.